A fine Great War Palestine operations D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Major W. M. Dugdale, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry and C.O. of the 25th (Montgomeryshire & Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. W. Dugdale, Imp. Yeomanry); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. W. M. Dugdale); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Major W. M. Dugdale, Montgom. Yeo.); Coronation 1937; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., silver, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1922, together with a dress miniature C.B. (Civil), gilt metal, generally very fine (8) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Welsh Regiments formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

View
Collection

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

William Marshall Dugdale was born in 1881, the son of John Marshall Dugdale of Llwyn, Montgomeryshire.

Educated at Rugby School, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry in March 1900. In common with many fellow Yeomanry officers, he sought active service and, in early 1901, he was embarked for South Africa in 88th Company, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. He subsequently participated in operations in the Transvaal in March-April 1901 and in March-May 1902, in the Orange River Colony from April 1901 to March 1901, and in Cape Colony from March 1901 to January 1902 (Queen’s Medal & 5 clasps). Latterly having been advanced to Captain, he commanded the Denbighshire Yeomanry’s 29th Company, Imperial Yeomanry.

The latter unit having been disbanded on its return to England in September 1902, Dugdale resumed his duties in the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry and gained advancement to Major in October 1906.

In September 1916, he was appointed to the command of the 1/1 Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, and at the end of the same year he was given the acting rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. It was in this capacity that he led the 25th (Montgomeryshire & Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, in Egypt and Palestine 1916-18, a period of operations that witnessed him leading from the front on more than one occasion. By way of example the regimental history describes him leading a party of three officers and 50 other ranks in an attack on a Turkish position on the night of 24-25 June 1917 - ‘after some sharp fighting in which several Turks were killed and two taken prisoners, the raiding party withdrew and regained our line.’

Again, in the battle of Beersheba, Dugdale ‘was everywhere encouraging and directing the attack.’ He was mentioned in despatches by Allenby (London Gazette 16 January 1918, refers) and was awarded the D.S.O.

Dugdale, who relinquished his commission in December 1921, subsequently added the T.D. to his accolades (London Gazette 6 March 1923, refers), and served as High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire in 1927. He was for many years Chairman of the county’s Territorial Army Association and it was in this capacity that he was awarded the C.B. (Civil Division) (London Gazette 13 June 1946, refers). He died at Glenyrafon Hall, Llanyblodwel, Oswestry in November 1952; sold with copied research.